FMHS football player penalized after praying in end zone

Author: Adam Wright
Published: Updated:

FORT MYERS, Fla. – In the second quarter of Friday night’s game versus Riverdale, Fort Myers High School senior tight end Sam Turner caught a 27-yard touchdown pass to put his team up 28-0. It was the first touchdown of his high school career.

In the end zone, Turner knelt down to say a quick prayer, and the referee threw a penalty flag.

“I saw the flag and I was so confused at first,” Turner told WINK News Sunday.

“I was like, ‘Are you seriously flagging me right now? What did I do wrong?’ Eventually the ref came up and talked to me and said I was trying to bring attention to myself and I was trying to explain to him that that wasn’t the case at all. I wasn’t trying to bring attention to myself I was just trying to thank God.”

Turner said he was also pointing to the sky to honor his friend and former Greenwave running back Jojo Brunson, who was killed in a drive-by shooting last year at the age of 17.

According to the National Federation of State High School Associations, a player can be penalized for “any delayed, excessive or prolonged act by which a player attempts to focus attention upon himself”.

The 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct was enforced on the ensuing kickoff. It didn’t affect the outcome of the game, Fort Myers beat Riverdale 49-0, but Turner says since Friday night tons of people from all over have been praising him for his demonstration of faith.

Since our partners at the News-Press first ran the story, hundreds have been sounding off on social media about the penalty. Many are offended that the ref penalized Turner for his actions, others say the penalty was deserved as it appears Turner was showboating.

Turner says he’s not mad at the referee and respects his call, but wishes things were different.

“It would be nice for players with a good faith to be able to honor what they believe in,” he said.

Copyright ©2024 Fort Myers Broadcasting. All rights reserved.

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without prior written consent.